Stourbridge Saxons head to Sedgley

Stourbridge Saxons head to Manchester for their rearranged fixture with Sedgley Park looking to build on last week's win over Blackheath.

Last Saturday's 36-16 victory over the South Londoners at Stourton Park was their first of 2011 and propelled the Saxons up to fifth place in the National League One table.

They were inspired by a masterful display from ex-Springbok Thinus Delport, who guided his young team-mates to a triumph that helped banish the memory of defeats at the hands of Blaydon and Wharfedale.

Delport demonstrated impeccable kicking and incisive running, but it's his ability to bring the best out of Stourbridge's young back division that is key.

The game was finely balanced going into the final 15 minutes but Delport played a key role in back-to-back tries that put the Saxons out of reach.

Stourbridge's director of rugby Neil Mitchell is hoping to name an unchanged side for the trip north tomorrow with second row Ben Hughes, who is suffering from a knee injury, currently the only doubt.

Sedgley Park are currently languishing 12th in the division, though the table is somewhat deceptive and only eight points separate them from the Saxons.

They are particularly strong at their Park Lane ground where five of their seven victories have come this term. They have won their last four matches in a row at home, culminating in last week's narrow win over the Cornish All Blacks.

The home side squeezed home 18-17 courtesy of a last minute try from scrum-half Chris Wilkinson.

The rest of the side's points against the All Black were scored by wing Stephen Nutt, who is Sedgley's top scorer with 146 so far this season and a man the Saxons will have to keep an eye on.

Mitchell said: "It's going to be difficult up there, particularly if it rains during the match. It will need a big defensive effort and when opportunities come we will need to take them.

"It is a key game for us to win, if we can beat Sedgley Park away then it sets us up well for the coming weeks."